Buoyant boat-cover.



No. 64|, 504. Patented Jan. l6, I900. G. K. GANDY.

BUOYANT BOAT COVER.

(Application filed July 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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No. s4|,5o4.j Patented Jan. I6, I900.

a. K. GANDY.

BUOYANT BOAT COVER.

(Application filed Jlgly 20, 1899.) (No Model.) a Sheets8heet 2.

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P D N A G K a BUOYANT BOAT COVER.

(Applicatidn am July 20, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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BUOYANT BOAT-COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,504, dated January 16, 1900.

Application filed July 20, 1899. Serial No. 724,481. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERARD KNIFE GANDY, master mariner, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 8 Cardigan Mansions, Richmond, London, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Buoyant Boat-Covers for Life-Saving, (Marine,) of which the followingis aspecification.

This invention relates to marine life-saving apparatus, and has for its objectbuoyant covers for'ships boats, which covers may be readily adapted for use as rafts or boats in case of need. According to my invention I make a boatcover of canvas (either waterproof or not) or of other suitable material, and I provide this cover with a lining of cork, rubber air vessels, or with other means to render it buoyant. The said cover is also provided with life-lines and is preferably fitted with a central longitudinal spar and transverse stretchers. When the said boat-cover is intended for adaptation as a boat, it is also provided with ratan or similar ribs.

A cover constructed as above stated may be secured to the boat in any well-known manner and may be suspended from the chainspan between the davits, so that the boat may be readily lowered away from the said cover without inconvenience or so that the cover may be quickly thrown overboard in case of necessity.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan and Fig. 2 an under side View of the said boat-cover adapted for use as a raft. Fig. 3 is an under side view of the cover constructed so as to enable it either to be converted into a boat or used as a raft. Fig. 4: is a view of the cover adapted to serve as a boat. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a boat suspended from a ships davits with the cover attached thereto.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the cover, of canvas or other material. a a are strips or sections of cork, air vessels, pieces of rubher, or other buoyant material secured to the under side of said cover by stitching or pockcured. to the cover in convenient positions and preferably on both sides thereof. When these covers are required for use as rafts, they are thrown overboard, and several of them may be lashed together by means of the spars B, which have their ends at either extremity provided with an eye fitted with a lashing for this purpose. These spars can be readily removed from the lugs 19 b, if required.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the cover is of very similar construction to that above described with referenceto Figs. 1 and 2. The buoyant strips, pieces, or vessels at a are, how ever, modified in shape, as shown, and the two inner transverse stretchers C O on either side of the spar B are each made in two pieces placed end to end, so as to enable the cover to conveniently assume the required shape when converted into a boat. 0 c are light ratan or similar ribs, secured to the under side of the cover. E E are other stretchers which are secured to the cover by beckets c e when not in use. When the cover is to be converted into a boat, the flaps a a are folded Over onto the under side of the cover, the end transverse ribs are brought together with the said flaps between them, and the free ends of said end ribs are respectively secured together by clamps F F or equivalent means. These end transverse ribs form the bow and stern of the boat, and the stretchers E E are placed in the positions shown in Fig. 4:, where two of them extend between the notches or brackets on the central spar and transverse stretchers at the respective ends of the cover, and two of them extend between the sides of the cover.

The number of the transverse stretchers employed can be varied as required, according to the size of the cover.

The cover can be supported, as shown in Fig. 5, from the chain-span G between the davits, so that the boat may be lowered away from said cover or that the said cover may be readily detached and thrown overboard in case of emergency.

The cover may be provided with a light mast and sail or with paddles or may be otherwise modified in detail Without departing from my invention.

These covers, which do not require more room than ordinary boats covers, are capable of supporting a number of persons in the water and will be found especially valuable on account of the ease and rapidity with which they can be thrown overboard.

Boat-covers constructed as above described can also be employed as collision-mats or used for stopping leaks or slot-holes.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a ships-boat cover of buoyant sections attached thereto and a straight central longitudinal spar removably secured thereto, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. The combination withaships-boat cover of buoyant sections and straight transverse stretchers attached thereto and astraight central longitudinal spar removably secured thereto, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination withaships-boat cover, of buoyant sections and straight transverse stretchers attached thereto, a straight central longitudinal spar removably secured thereto, life-lines, and flaps at each end thereof, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

4. A ships-boat cover provided with buoyant sections, a central longitudinal spar removably attached thereto and provided with a notch near each end, light ribs secured thereto, transverse stretchers having notches at their on ter ends and attached near the ends of the cover on either side of the longitudinal spar, life-lines, flaps at each end of the said cover, clamps to secure the outer ends of the notched transverse stretchers together when the cover is converted to forma boat, stretchers to extend between the notches on the longitudinal spar and the notches on the end transverse stretchers and other stretchers to extend between the sides of the cover when the latter is converted to form a boat, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses this 4th day of July, 1899.

GERARD KNIPE GANDY.

A Witnesses:

F. W. MOLELLAN, FRED C. HARRIS. 

